Tuesday 9 April 2013

Drip Drip Drip

I haven't been posting as often as I might, and I haven't been sticking to things as well as I might, but I am feeling pleased because I feel like I am making progress. The thing is, in an ideal world, I will have done my thinking, make all the changes I want to make, and away I will go. But it isn't an ideal world, and while I would take perfect if I thought I could get it, I think it is healthier to aim for progress instead. Over the past 15 years, I have started over more times than I can remember. From time to time I will come across a food diary that was started and abandoned after a week or so, from years ago. But since I started this blog, since I rejoined weightwatchers 12 weeks ago, rather than being years or months between falling off the wagon and getting on again, it is weeks. It is like the slow dripping of a tap is gradually becoming the faster pitter patter of raindrops, and I hope that soon it will become a flow and a flood. I feel optimistic. It is a good way to feel. At the same time, I am trying to surround myself with inspiration. I have been unfaithful to Weightwatchers Magazine, and also bought Rosemary Conley and Slimming World this month. The programmes are not interchangeable, but you aren't going to find anything heavily calorific in any of them, and some of the stories are really inspirational. I am following a few blogs, and also reading email newsletters like my favourite Mind Body Green, and Our Lady of Weightloss. One particular post I found inspirational is this one: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8225/life-with-chronic-illness-is-today-the-day-i-give-up.html It made me think - if, heaven forbid, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness, what wouldn't I do to try and be well again. But why would you wait? Why wouldn't you do everything you can do to be well now, rather than wait to be ill? But at the same time, I am aware that it is easier to think and say things than do them. I have been continuing my experiments with foods that I used to dislike, or have not tried before, and my latest discovery is beetroot. Since trying the Jamie Oliver beet salad I have bought some beets, and been having them in my morning juice. My favourite juice of the week has been a teaspoon of wheatgrass powder, blended with a juiced apple, half a beet, a quarter of lemon, a blood orange and some raspberries. A gorgeous deep ruby red colour, and delicious too! There are improvements I still want and need to make, but I am pleased with the changes that are staying with me so far, the things that are becoming my new 'normal'. My hot water and lemon juice that I start the day with, followed by my fresh juice or smoothie and a multivitamin. Dinners are becoming more and more home cooked from scratch, with a careful eye on the portion control. As far as the non-food related things go, I had a Dermalogica facial at the weekend which included lots of massage and was heavenly. I bought a little tub of Daily Microfoliant which I have used before, and was really impressed with. I also got my nails done afterwards, and am really enjoying having matching bright red lips and tips! It was a bit of a weekend of renovations, as I coloured my hair, which I had trimmed yesterday. Try as I might, I cannot replicate the curls my hairdresser makes using her straighteners! A few weeks ago, Boots had an offer on their Botanics range, so I got a day cream, night cream, and eye cream which I have been using religiously. They smell divine, and hopefully are doing me some good!